Three Sri Lankans reach semis in Bahrain
Shuttlers Ranithma Liyanage, Isuri Attanayake and Sithumi de Silva made their cut to the semi-final stage at the Bahrain International Series 2024, which is currently underway in Manama, Bahrain. With the qualifications, Sri Lanka is guaranteed at least two bronze medals for advancing all the way to the semi-final stage, if they fail to reach the finals.
On Friday evening, Liyanage secured her semi-final slot in the Women’s Singles, after seeing off her fellow compatriot Rashmi Mudalige in the all-Sri Lanka quarter-final clash by straight sets at the India Club Bahrain. Attanayake and de Silva, who had a fine tournament so far, overcame stiff competition from the Bahrain duo Lizbeth Elsa Binu and Neha Susan Biju in the Women’s Doubles quarter-final, before securing a win by straight sets.
Ranithma Liyanage has the potential to reach the Women's Singles final
Liyanage, who is the top seed among Women’s Singles shuttlers in Sri Lanka, was given a tough start by Mudalige in the first set. But the much fancied Liyanage made sure to change the fortunes in her favour to secure a 21/14 win in the first set. Liyanage played brilliantly and took the upperhand from the onset of the second set, as she completed a straight win with set scores of 21/11. She will meet Mikaela Joy de Guzman of the Philippines in the semi-finals.
Attanayake and de Silva made a promising start earlier on, but they were given a tough challenge by the Bahrain pair, Elsa and Susan, before the Sri Lankan pair bounced back and recorded a straight win in the quarter-final of the Women’s Doubles. The Sri Lankan pair recorded set wins of 21/10 and 21/19 to ensure a slot in the semi-final against top seed Indian pair Annanya Pravin and Prerana Shet.
Meanwhile, Ali Hayati of Iran put a complete stop to the progress of Sri Lankan Men’s Singles player Aashinsa Herath, after recording a 2-1 win in an absorbing quarter-final clash. Hayati made early progress by securing the first set 21/14, but Herath bounced back to equalise with a punching 21/17 win in the second set. After an early setback, Hayati bounced back to secure the third and final set by 21/13 and secure a semi-final slot.
Earlier Men’s Singles players Thilina Rajakaruna and Reshan Dimbukkuwalage bowed out of the competition following losses in their Round of 16 games in the Men’s Singles. Men’s Doubles pair Dinura Rashmika Priyankara and Siyath Senaratne too had to end their unbeaten run after falling short by a whisker following a tough Round of 16 game against Bahrain pair Adnan Ebrahim and Muhammad Firmansyah, who were pinched by 23/21 and 24/22.
| Results | |
| Women’s Doubles QF: Isuri Attanayake/Sithumi de Silva (SL) beat Lizbeth Elsa Binu/Neha Susan Biju (Bah) 2-0 (21/10, 21/19) Women’s Singles QF: Ranithma Liyanage (SL) beat Rashmi Mudalige (SL) 2-0 (21/14, 21/11) Men’s Singles QF: Ali Hayati (Iran) beat Aashinsa Herath (SL) 2-1 (21/14, 17/21, 21/13) |